Recent Projects | Launch DFA

Recent Projects / Transactions

Launch Development Finance Advisors has structured billions in public infrastructure financings across the United States. Our portfolio includes Launch Bond® transactions, Public Improvement Districts (PIDs), Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ), and Community Facilities Districts (CFDs). Each transaction is designed to reduce costs, mitigate risks, and accelerate reimbursements for developers and homebuilders.

Scroll down to view the recent transactions and projects completed by the professionals at Launch – Development Finance Advisors.

The Launch Bond™ – Astro Land (Starwood Land)

We are pleased to announce the successful closing of a 5.5%, non-recourse, tax exempt Municipal Utility District (“MUD”) Forward Funding Special Revenue Bond (“Launch Bond”).

The Launch Bond™ is collateralized by the assignment of future MUD bond proceeds from ten (10) MUDs contained within four (4) master planned communities. Once the Bond is retired, net MUD proceeds flow back to the developer.

The Launch Bond™ proceeds will be utilized to reimburse the developer for $150 million in eligible MUD improvements. The transaction also includes a $9.1 million reserve fund. As the MUD bonds pay down the outstanding Launch Bond balance, to the extent that the reserve fund exceeds one year’s estimated interest payment, such excess reserve fund balance will be used to call Launch Bonds.

The Launch Bond® – Candela (JDS)

Launch Development Finance Advisors is pleased to announce the successful closing of a 6.125% non-recourse, tax-exempt MUD Forward Funding Special Revenue Bond (“Launch Bond®”).

The Launch Bond®, collateralized by the assignment of future MUD bond proceeds, will provide $32 million in reimbursements for eligible MUD improvements, with an additional $4.2 million reserved to complete a major roadway and related utility infrastructure. The transaction also establishes a $2.5 million reserve fund. As MUD bonds are issued and used to pay down the outstanding balance, excess reserve proceeds above one year’s estimated interest will be applied to early redemptions of the Launch Bond®.

The Launch Bond® – Lariat (Randolph Texas)

New Financing Innovation – The Launch Bond®
Forward Funding MUD Capital Appreciation Bond

After several years of development, Launch, working alongside industry professionals, has introduced a financing tool that allows Texas developers to accelerate the receipt of anticipated future Municipal Utility District (MUD) bond proceeds through a non-recourse, tax-exempt capital appreciation bond—known as The Launch Bond®.

In this transaction, before the MUD had issued any bonds, the developer received $33.2 million to reimburse a portion of completed MUD-eligible infrastructure. Traditionally, waiting for MUD bonds to be issued would have delayed funding by 3 to 4 years. With The Launch Bond®, the developer accelerated proceeds into their pro forma, significantly improving cash flow and increasing project IRR.

For additional insight into the background and impact of The Launch Bond®, listen to Episode 30 of the Land to Lots™ Podcast.

Valley Vista

Working with D.R. Horton, Forestar, and Lennar, Launch established a special improvement district on 425 net developable acres of this residential master planned community located in North Las Vegas, Nevada and assisted in the issuance of $33.9 million in special assessment bonds to finance water, sewer, storm drainage and roadway improvements. Valley Vista is one of the top selling master planned communities in the United States.

Novus Innovation Corridor

We are assisting Catellus and Arizona State University(“ASU”) with the University Athletic Facilities District and the imposition and collection of “in lieu” property tax payments to support ASU’s athletic facilities.

https://novus.asu.edu/real-estate

Avimor

Prepared and passed legislation allowing for Community Infrastructure Districts (“CID”) and established the CID for Avimor, a 23,000 acre master planned community located in Ada County, Idaho. To date we have been issuing special assessment and general obligations bonds every year as build out of the project continues.

Harris Ranch

Established the first Community Infrastructure District in the state of Idaho for Harris Ranch, a 1,300 acre new urbanist community located minutes from downtown Boise, Idaho along the Boise River. To date we have issued all of the special assessment bonds utilized for funding roadway improvements.

Verrado

Verrado is an approximate 7,300 acre walkable master planned community located in Buckeye, Arizona. We assisted the developer prepare the pre-annexation and development agreement by inserting favorable special district financing language. We also created two Community Facilities Districts for the project and assisted in various bond issuances.

Lake Las Vegas

For our initial involvement in Lake Las Vegas, we were asked to restructure existing local improvement district bonds issued prior to the Great Recession. We are now in the process of issuing additional local improvement district bonds to finance the construction of infrastructure serving Phase I of Rainbow Canyon.

Texas

We assisted in the revision to the public improvement district statute and were instrumental in issuing the first public improvement district bond in Austin in which our client was able to fund engineering and construction costs out of bond proceeds.

Camana Bay

Assisted the developer in preparing the market driven land use plan, formulating a design competition; assembling the development team and entitling the project. Camana Bay is located in Georgetown, Grand Cayman, BWI.

Cadence

We established the community facilities district at Cadence and assisted our client in the issuance of both general obligation and special assessment bonds.

Skye Canyon

To date we’ve created two special improvement districts on Phase II and III of Skye Canyon and issued approximately $25 million in bonds to finance regional improvements. We’re now working with 3 national home builders to establish a third special improvement district to finance the improvements related to 640 acres of the project.

Summerlin

Over the years we’ve established multiple special improvement districts at Summerlin issuing in excess of $75 million in special assessment bonds. We are now working to issue bonds to fund regional improvements related to Summerlin’s Town Center.

Inspirada

On behalf of the four national home builders who took over Inspirada after the Great Recession, we restructured $102 million in outstanding bonded indebtedness. Inspirada is now one of the top selling master planned communities in the Las Vegas metro area.